Telephone systems



Oct. 16, 1962 F. P. GOHOREI.

TELEPHONE SYSTEMS l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 Oct. 16, 1962 F. P. GOHOREL 3,059,055

TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor I.' P Gohbr-el BWJz/wa/f. Attorney @om @3HE SQ i- VS.. m

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TELEPHONE SYSTEMS l5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1958 Attorney Oct. 15, 1962 F. P. GOHOREL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 5, 1958 l Horn e y 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 3.958

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TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 Fl .7.l

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TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1958 l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 2 E@ E[52E/7.4 E/

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TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1958 l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 FBGJb.

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TELEPHONE SYSTEMS F11ed may 5, 1958 15 sheets-sheet 15 A ttorne'y amate Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,059,055 TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Fernand Pierre Gohorel, Antony, France, assigner to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1955, Ser. No. 732,912 7 Claims. (Cl. 179-7) The present invention refers to improvements in telephone systems and more particularly in the signaling and supply bridges used in automatic exchanges.

Each line or circuit connected to an automatic exchange is, in general, associated with a signaling bridge or equipment designed to send and receive the various signals required for the routing of the call. Now, these lines or circuits may be of very diiferent types. Some are operated on direct current, while others are operated on alternating current of commercial, voice or higher frequencies. The codes used for signaling may themselves vary from one circuit to another. There are also simplied-signaling lines or circuits, wherein the signals are sent by supplying direct current of a predetermined direction and are received through breaks in the loop or variations of its resistance. Such is the case, for example, of the morecommon types of lines: subscriber lines, trunks between local exchanges, etc. In the case of subscriber lines, generally only one supply bridge is provided, common to all or part of said lines and split by one or more selection stages. Of course, it must be possible to exchange signals and controls between the equipment at the calling and the called end. Obviously, special equipment can be provided for each type of circuit or line, but this procedure complicates design and entails an increase in cost. The use of a single bridge the two sides of which could be modified in accordance With the type of line with which they are associated is often impossible owing to the large number of different cases encountered. The invention proposes to provide a solution for this problem.

The invention also proposes to reduce the number of signaling and supply bridges connected in series, so as to prevent undue attenuation of the connection. It provides a bridge for the calling end and a bridge for the called end, all other bridges being eliminated.

One of the features of the invention is an automatic telephone system using a selection chain to connect two lines or circuits and wherein with each line or circuit, or with each line or circuit group, both at the calling and at the called end, is associated a signaling bridge or equipment consisting of a combination of two means, the one adapted to the line or circuit and designed to send out and receive the signals required for the routing of a call and the other a standard means that allows exchanging signals and controls within the exchange and, possibly, recording certain information required for putting through a call and determining the tolls thereon, the design of these standard means making it possible to simplify manufacture and reduce the cost.

Another feature of the invention is that, when the line or circuit at either end of the selection chain requires only simplified signaling, certain changes are made inthe standard means of the equipment located at the other end of the selection chain that allow it to adapt itself to the characteristics or the operating method of the simplifiedsignaling circuit, thus making it possible to use a single bridge for the selection chain, with the consequent saving in material and reduction of the attenuation.

The arrangements covered by the preceding feature find application particularly in the case of subscriber lines or of certain lines leading to exchanges and that must always be supplied.

Another feature of the invention is that the signaling and supply bridges comprising modifiable means are always placed, with respect to the selection chain, on the called-end line or circuit.

Another features of the invention is that the standard means receives from the register all the signals that will allow it either to operate in conjunction with the callingend signaling bridge or to adapt itself to simplified-signaling lines or circuits.

Another features of the invention is that line Wires are used to make the changes required in the standard means of the signaling and supply bridges and that the register controls these changes on the basis of signals received at the time of the selections both from the calling and the called lines.

Therefore, through certain modifications, the called-end signaling and supply bridge can perform two different functions: it can operate in conjunction with the callingend signaling bridge and thus allow the exchange of signals and controls within the central oiiice or else adapt itself directly to a simplified-signaling circuit. In accordance with a variant, a slightly-different arrangement yielding the same result can be adopted.

Another feature of the invention is to allot the bridges associated with certain lines or with certain circuits at the called end, some operating in conjunction with a callingend signaling bridge and allowing the exchange of signals and controls within the central otlce and the others supplying the calling line directly, arrangements being provided to direct the selectors to an allotted bridge depending upon the nature of the calling equipment.

Other functions can be assigned to the signaling and supply bridges as secondary functions.

Another feature of the invention is that signals can be sent from the registers to the signaling and supply bridges for special and nonrecurrent functions such as for determination of the tolls or for recording calls, supplementary signals received from said bridges allowing the registers to do such sending.

Another feature of the invention is that, to take care of exceptional cases, the signaling and supply bridge can be eliminated by a metallic connection that allows using some other bridge or termination meeting the requirements of such exceptional cases.

Var-ions other features will become apparent from the description that follows, given as -a nonlimitative example with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a wiring diagram showing the normal position of the signaling and supply bridges lin an automatic telephone exchange in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a variant of the diagram of FIG. 1 explicitly showing the signaling and supply bridges most commonly found in an exchange having one group-selecting stage.

FG. 3 is a variant of the diagram of FIG. 2 for the case of an exchange having two group-selecting stages.

FIG. 4 is a variant of the diagram of FIG. 3 for the use of allotted bridges.

FIG. 5 is a variant ofthe diagram of FIG. 1 concerning the case of a small-capacity sub-exchange.

FIG. 6 shows the circuit components required to explain the method of sending the various signals between two bridges located in the same exchange, one at the originating and the other at the terminating end of the selection chain.

FIG. 7 shows a supply bridge arrangement using selfinductance coils and condensers.

FIG. 8 shows a supply bridge arrangement using a transformer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a signaling and supply bridge in accordance with the invention.

FIG. l0 shows the application of the FIG. 9 diagram to the case of a line adapter to an exchange receiving the dialing pulses as multifrequency signals.

FIG. ll shows the application of the FIG. 9 diagram E to the case of a line adapter to an exchange receiving D.C. dialing pulses.

FIG. l2 shows the application of the FIG. 9 diagram to the case of a line adaptor to a battery supplying exchange.

FIGS. 13 and 13b show the application of the FIG. 9 diagram to the case of a local battery feeder circuit offering the possibility of establishing a metallic connection and of having access to party lines.

FIGS. 14a and l4b show the application of the FIG. 9 diagram to the case of a multiple charge originating line adaptor.

A wiring diagram showing vthe normal position of the signaling and supply bridges in an automatic telephone exchange in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. l. To establish a connection between a calling subscriber AB and a called subscriber AB', a line selector L is provided to hunt for calling subscriber AB and connect him to a register connector IE. The latter is thereupon connected to a register EN the function of which is to receive the digits dialed by the calling subscriber and send the selective combinations required for the routing of the various selection stages. Two selectors have been provided, one a group selector G, which selects a free line in the group corresponding to the number dialed, and the other line selector L', which selects called subscriber AB within his own group. To supply both subscribers, a circuit ALI, consisting of two sections s and n/s, is provided between group selector Gand line selector L'. Section s is a fixed supply bridge designed to supply called subscriber AB. Section n/s is a modiable bridge that can perform signaling or supply functions as required. In the example described, the calling subscriber is one that must be supplied. For this purpose, register EN sends feeder circuit ALl a special signal that brings about in section n/s all the changes required to have that section supply calling subscriber AB. The holding of the talking connection is thereupon provided by feeder circuit ALL At the end of the call, the

replacement of the handset by the calling and called subscribers is detected by section n/s and section s, respectively, feeder circuit AL then causing the release of the various devices seized. In accordance with a known method, this release can occur when the calling or the called subscriber hangs up, when the first of them does so or, finally, when both have replaced their handset.

To route calls coming from a distant exchange located ahead of the particular exchange involved, each terminating circuit CA is associated with a line adaptor IN1 consisting of two sections a and n. The role of section a is to receive and send all the signals required for the routing of the call. Generally it receives a seizure signal coming from the distant exchange and sends said exchange an invitation-to-send signal when register EN is ready to receive the dialing pulses. It then sends said dialing pulses to register EN, which in turn sends the selective combinations required to route group selector G and line selector L to called subscriber AB'. When the selection of said subscriber has ended, section a of line adapter IN1 sends to the exchange ahead signals characterizing the availability of the called subscriber, his answer and nally his replacement of the handset; it also sends a signal showing said subscriber to be busy if such is required. Circuit CA can operate in accordance with very different methods. Thus, for example, the sending of the signals required for the routing of a call can be done on D.C., on commercial-frequency A.C., on VF A.C., or any other way. The number and the type of signals exchanged can also vary within broad limits. Thus, for example, some circuits send end-of-dialing signals, while others do not. From the foregoing explanations it follows that the makeup of section a of adapter IN1 depends essentially upon the type of circuit CA.

Section n of adapter INI is designed to receive from battery feeder ALI the various signals required for the routing of the call (subscriber free, subscriber busy, an-

i swer required, hanging-up required, etc.). This is a standard section that does not depend upon the type of circuit CA and that can be adapted on a definite basis. Register EN sends feeder ALI another special signal,

Vwhich brings about in section n/s all changes required to adapt section n/s for operation with section n of adapter IN1. More precisely, section n/s, which in the case of a local call supplies calling subscriber AB, in the case here under consideration detects the various phases of the routing of the call (subscriber free, subscriber busy, answer required, hanging up required) and sends the corresponding signals to section n of adapter IN1. Direct current is generally used for this sending, which is eifected within the same exchange.

To route a call from a local subscriber AB to an originating circuit CD, said circuit is associated with a line adapter IN2 directly connected to the banks of group selector G and consisting of two sections n/s and a. 'Ihe role of section a is to send to circuit CD and receive from said circuit the various signals required for the routing of the call (seizure, invitation to send, etc.). Its make-up depends essentially upon the type of circuit CD. Section n/s is a modifiable section that can, as required, perform supply or signaling functions. In the example described, the calling subscriber is one that must be supplied. For this purpose, register EN sends adapter IN2 a signal that brings about in section n/s all the changes required for said section to supply calling subscriber AB.

f Finally, the exchange under consideration can also handle transit calls received over terminating circuit CA and routed over originating circuit CD. In this case, register EN' sends adapter IN2 a signal that brings about in section n/s all the changes required to adapt this section to section n of adapter IN1. More precisely, section n/s, which for an outgoing call supplies calling subscriber AB, in the case here under consideration detects the various phases of tne routing of the call by means of signals sent it by section a and sends the corresponding signals to section n of adapter I N1.

Terminating and originating circuits SA and SD are similar to circuits CA and CD but terminate at small-capacity exchanges. They are connected on the banks of line selectors L like local subscribers AB and AB and are respectively associated with line adapters INS and IN4. Adapter INS consists of two sections a and n similar to those of adapter I N1. Adapter I N4 consists of two sections n/s and a similar to those of adapter IN2. rIhe method of establishing connections through circuits SA and SD is similar to the one already described for circuits CA and CD. However, since adapter IN4 is connected to the banks of line selector L instead of to the banks of group selector G, special arrangements must be provided to prevent both signaling and supply bridge ALI and adapter IN4 from being vconnected in series to the same talking connection, so as to prevent undue attenuation of the connection. To this end, the register sends feeder ALI a special signal that causes` the establishment of a metallic connection LM between the input and the output of said feeder.

FIG. 2 explicitly `shows the various terminating and originating circuits terminating at the exchange under consideration and it also shows the position as well as the nature of the bridges most commonly found in an exchange having one group-selecting stage. At the calling end are local subscribers AB, circuits SA coming from satellites as well as the corresponding adapter IN3, circuits CAI coming from local exchanges, automatic circuits CAZ as Well as the corresponding adapter IN1, toll operator positions POA as well as the corresponding adapter INS, and test positions PEA. These various circuits, along with the operator positions, are connected, as required, either to the banks ofline selectors L or to the. inlets Vvof group selectors G. At the called end are local subbscribers AB', circuits SD terminating atsatel lites as well as the cor s o dina'adV C151 to local exchanges as well as the corresponding adapter INS, automatic circuits CD2 as well as the corresponding adapter IN2, toll operator positions POR` as Well as the corresponding adapter I N6, and test positions PER. 'I'hese various circuits, along with the operator positions, are connected, as required, either to the banks of line selectors L or to the banks of group selectors G. Finally, feeders ALl are provided between selectors G and L', with the possibility of establishing metallic connections LM.

As examination of the figure will show, circuits CAl coming from local exchanges are not associated with adapters. In fact, for a call coming from such an exchange, only one supply bridge is provided and, depending upon the case, it can be ALI, IN4, INS, IN2 or IN6. The register, which, for the sake of simplifying the drawing, is not shown either in FIG. 2 or the rest, sends these bridges the special signal that brings about in section n/s all the changes required to supply the local exchange located ahead. The various signals required for the routing of the call (subscriber free, subscriber busy, etc.) are therefore sent either by supplying the line wires or by reversing or suppressing the supply. By thus providing arrangements so that a local exchange ahead of the exchange involved will always be supplied, regardless of the condition of the called subscriber, there is a saving of one adapter at the calling end.

Of course, no adapter. is to be associated with test positions PEA and PER, these positions being generally intended to establish metallic connections.

FIG. 3 covers the case of a larger exchange, comprising a supplementary group selector G2 between first group selector G1 and line selector L. Depending upon the case, feeder AL1 can be inserted either between group selector G2 and line selector L' or between group selectors G1 and G2, as shown by a dotted line. Generally, feeder ALI is and remains located in front of line selector L if the second group selector G2. is not installed at the beginning. If, on the contrary, the second group selector G2 is installed upon the creation of the exchange and is used particularly to handle tralic to local subscribers, it may be desirable to locate feeder AL in front of the second group selector G2, but so doing offers no other advantage than to reduce the number of these feeders. As examination of the ligure will show, the various calledend circuits can be connected, depending upon the case, to the banks of group selectors G1 or G2 or to the bank of line selectors L'.

In the case of FIG. 4, allotted bridges are used for certain calls of a specific type. Feeder AL2 is used for calls between two local subscribers. It comprises two sections s respectively supplying the calling and the called subscriber. This same feeder can also be used for calls from local exchanges, these exchanges always being supplied as already described. Feeder ALS is used for calls from a local circuit, for example, intended' for a local subscriber. It comprises one section n, adapted to the one of the terminating adapters, and one section s to supply the called subscriber. Adapters IN6 and IN6, respectively associated with operator positions POR and POR', are themselves allotted. Adapter JN6 comprises one section s to supply a calling subscriber or a distant local exchange. Adapter IN6 comprises one section n designed to operate in conjunction with the section n of a terminating adapter such as IN1 or IN2.

FIG. 5 covers the case of a small-capacity sub-exchange wherein all the signaling and supply bridges are allotted. Feeder AL2 is provided exclusively for calls between two local subscribers and comprises two sections s supplying said subscribers. Adapter .TNQ is used -for a call coming from the exchange serving the calling subscriber and intended for a local subscriber. It comprises one section a for. receiving and sending the various signals required for the routing of the call and one section s for supplying the called subscriber. Finally, adapter IN1() is used 4assumed to 'be in normal position.

for calls from a local subscriber AB intended for the exchange serving him. It comprises one section s for supplying the calling subscriber and one section a for the exchange of the signals required to route the call.

The operation of the circuit components that allow the exchange of signals between the originating and the terminating adapter of the central oice involved will now be described, with reference to FIG. 6. Throughout what follows it will be assumed that modiiiable section n/s of adapter IN2 (FIG. l) has received from the register the special signal allowing it to adapt itself to section n of terminating adapter IN1, that is, to operate in conjunction With it. The right-hand portion of FIG. 6 corresponds to section n/s of adapter IN2 (FIG. 1), the lefthand portion corresponding to section n of adapter IN1 (FIG. l).

In the descriptions that follow, the various relays are referenced by groups of two or more letters, the iirst letter being generally common to all the relays of the same equipment, the second letter or letters identifying the relay within said equipment. The contacts associated with the relays are designated by the same reference as the corresponding relay, followed by one of the digits 1 to 9. Thus, for example, reference AC1 designates the first contact of relay Ac. All the relays are shown in unoperated position.

The battery normally used to supply the various relays has its positive pole grounded, chosen as reference potential; however, a special supply battery is available, with its negative pole grounded. Also, three ditferent potentials are available: a negative polarity (negative pole of the regular supply battery), the ground potential or reference potential and a positive polarity (positive pole of the special supply battery). In the description, these potentials will be designated battery, ground and positive battery, respectively.

During selection the various relays of FIG. 6 are When selection has ended and if the called subscriber is free, front contact Xel closes and the following circuit is completed: battery, relay Xc, back Xfl, front Xel, back Xgl, midpoint of self-induction coil X52, the two halves of said coil in parallel, line wires a and b in parallel, self-induction coil XSI, midpoint of this coil, rectifier XQl, windings in series of relay Xa, ground.

Relay Xa pulls up but marginal relay Xc remains unoperated owing to the high resistance of the lower winding of relay Xa. Relay Xa acts then on section a of adapter IN1 in order to control all the necessary operations that will end in the sending of the subscriber free signal to the exchange ahead of the exchange involved'.

When the called subscriber answers, back contact Xfl opens, thereby causing the release of relay Xa in terminatmg adapter IN1. Said relay then controls the sending of the subscriber removes handset signal to the distant exchange.

When the called subscriber hangs up, back contact Xfl closes again, thereby causing the re-energization of relay Xa and the sending of the subscriber hangs up signal to the distant exchange.

If'the party at the distant exchange is an operator, the sending of nnging current to the called subscriber can be placed under that operators control. The ringing operation is translated, in adapter IN1, into the reception of a suitable signal finally causing the closing of front contact Xil. The high-resistance lower winding of relay Xa is short circuited, thereby causing marginal relay Xc to energize and to control by any suitable means the sending of ringing current to the called subscriber.

At the end of the call the operator can, by performing an operation that causes anew the sending of ringing current, call back a subscriber that has just replaced his handset. This operation is translated in adapter IN1 into the reception of a signal that causes the closing of front contact Xzl, the following operations developing then as described in the preceding paragraph.

yWhen the called subscriber isbusy, contact Xgl shifts to operative position and the following circuit is completed: positive polarity, marginal relay Xd, front Xgl, self-induction coil X52, line wires a and b in parallel, selfiuduction coil XSI, rectifier XQZ, windings in series of relay Xb, ground. Relay Xb energizes, but marginal relay Xd remains unoperated owing to the high resistance of the lower winding of relay Xb. Relay Xb then causes, by any suitable means, the sending of the busy signal to the distant exchange.

If the distant exchanges calling operator desires to listen in, a signal is sent to the exchange here under'consideration in order to cause, by any suitable means, the closing of front Contact X111. As a result, the high-re-V sistance lower winding of relay Xb is short circuited and marginal relay Xd energizes, thus bringing about all the operations required to listen in on a busy subscriber. When the listening-in operation ends, contact X111 opens and relay Xd releases.

Self-induction coils X81 and X82 are so chosen as to allow D.C. signals to be exchanged correctlyV between adapters IN1 and IN2 without appreciable attenuation of the speaking current.

FIG. 7 shows the supply bridges of feeder AL1 of FIG. l. At the called end, the two line-wires a and b are supplied through relay Yd. At the calling end, the two linewires zz and b can be either looped through self-induction coil X83 or supplied through a relay Ya; the special signal coming from the register acts upon contacts Ycl and Yc2 in order to cause the necessary switchings, depending upon whether the caller is a subscriber or a circuit. A tap at the midpoint of self-induction coil X83 terminates at relays similar to relays Xe and Xd of FIG. 6 in order to allow the exchange of signals between the feeder involved and the adapter associated with the calling circuit. If the calling party is a local subscriber and the called subscriber has answered, relay Yd energizes and over its contacts Ydl and YdZ causes the reversal of the callingend supply polarities. Condensers Ycl and YCZ split the two supply bridges, while allowing the passage of the speaking current.

FTG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 7 wherein the two supply bridges are split by a transformer TR. This bridge is to be used when ground-potential differences or disturbances are likely to occur and when poor lines are involved, in order to reduce troublesome noises. SuchVv will be the case for small exchanges, at least for incoming or outgoing calls. ln other cases, preference will be given to the use ofthe supply bridge of -TIG. 7, because of its lower cost and because it produces less attenuation. n The detailed operation of the block diagram of a signaling and supply bridge in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 9. This bridge, referenced A, can be used in the section n/s of an originating feeder or adapter. In this equipment, only the circuit components that are needed in order to be able to understand the invention are shown. All the relays are normally in home position.

Equipment A is seized by means of circuits not shown. The seizure signal (if needed) to the exchange behind is 4under the control of the register, which applies a certain polarity to incoming wire c. This polarity is sent through back contacts AgS and Af4 to a relay not shown and causes the sending of the desired seizure signal.

When equipment A is ready to receive the selective combinations, contact Anl. closes and the two incoming line-wires a and b are looped through the following circuit: wire a, back A114, AgS, Acl, front A111, relay At (which remains unoperated), back Ag4, A113, Ail, wire b. Register EN then sends the equipment the various selective combinations required for the routing of the call. Each dialingY pulse is received in the form of a supply from wires a and b, causing the energization of relay At, the pulse being thereupon sent from the rearward end by any 8 suitable means. When equipment A has received all the selective combinations, contact A111 opens.

in accordance with a variant, contact Aul opens after the reception of one or more digits and does not close again until equipment A has been able to receive the succeeding digits.

When the register has sent equipment A all the selective combinations required to route the call, it sends an endof-dialing signal, which is translated into the application of positive battery to wire b for a short instant. The following circuit is then completed: positive battery on wire b, back A, A113, Agli, rectifier VAQl, relay Ac, ground. Relay Ac pulls up and energizes relay Af over back Agl, front Ac4, back AZ, ground.

Relay Af completes a holding circuit for itself over back Ahi and front Afl; over its front AfZ it prepares the circuit of relay Ag; over its front Af3 it prepares the circuit of its opposition winding; iinally, it causes the sending of a predetermined polarity to the register over wire AFI, front Af4, back Ag3 and wire c. This polarity depends essentially upon the charging method: it is positive if the equipment must record the identity of both subscribers for the purpose of printing a ticket; it is negative if the equipment must simply receive from the register the signal of the charge applied and thereupon send the charge pulses to the calling subscribers meter; finally, no polarity is sent if the charge applied is special (no metering, simple metering or invariable metering).

At the end of the end-of-dialing signal sent by the register over wire b, relay Ac releases and completes the following circuit over ACS: battery, relay Ag, back ACS, front AZ, Afl, back A12, ground. Relay Ag energizes.

Relay Ag completes a holding circuit for itself over AgZ; over its front contact Agi it prepares the circuit of the opposition winding of relay Af.

The register tests an available auxiliary-trunk circuit CLA over wire a, back A114, front AgS and back Ak3. If this test is successful, it applies a ground to wire c, thereby energizing relay Al over front Ag3, back AkZ and back All. Relay Al energizes and holds |by any suitable means; over its front A11 it returns wire cto the auxiliary-truck circuit.

Auxiliary-trunk circuit CLA thereupon causes the seizure of a free multipling circuit or trunk-bundle FC. As indicated by the multipling arrows, auxiliary-trunk circuit CLA is common to a certain number of equipments A; also, multipling circuit or trunk bundle FC is common to a certain number of auxiliary-trunk circuits CLA. The `seized fmultipling circuit or trunk bundle FC thereupon sends the register an identity signal over auxiliary-trunk circuit CLA, front All, baci; AkZ, front Ag3 and wire c. This identity signal may, for example, be a predetermined polarity or acombination of alternating currents of different frequencies. Upon receiving this signal, register EN is connected to trunk bundle FC by any suitable means. Said bundle consists essentially of a certain number of wires and allows sending a plurality of selective signals from the register to equipment A in practically instantaneous fashion. If the so-called two-out-of-ive code is used, and hence live wires per signal, a trunk Ibundle comprising 5 x n wires will allow sending n signals simultaneously.

Over its front contact A12, relay Al causes the application of battery to wire b, over the following circuit: resistance ARI, front A12, back Akl, front Agli, back A113, Ail and wire b. Upon receiving this battery, the register sends all the signals required for charging the call. These signals are sent through trunk bundle FC and auxiliarytrunk circuit CLA; they are thereupon recorded in equipment A by relays not shown since they do not form part of the invention.

When the information required for charging the call has been recorded in equipment A, relay Ak energizes by any suitable means; at Akl it removes the battery from wire b in order to signal the register thatV the information sent has 9 been properly received, the register then releasing trunk bundle FC and auxiliary-trunk circuit CLA; over its front AkZ, it prepares the operation of the two relays Am and An; over its front Ak3 it prepares the circuit of relays Aj and Ac; it also opens the holding circuit (not shown) of relay Al.

Where equipment A must record the identity of both subscribers for ticket-printing purposes, the capacity of the trunk bundle may be insucient to send all the necessary signals simultaneously. After having transmitted part of the information, this bundle is released and then reseized for sending the rest of the information. To obtain this result, relay Ak is released by any suitable means after the release of the trunk bundle; equipment A is then in the same position as before the seizure of the trunk bundle and the above-described cycle of operations is repeated.

It will rst be assumed, throughout what follows, that equipment A must supply line wires a and b at the calling end. In that case, the register applies positive battery momentarily to wire a, the following circuit being completed: wire a, back Ah4, front AgS, Ak3, Ag6, rectiier AQl, relay Ac, which energizes, ground. Over its front A04 and front Agl and Af, relay Ac completes the circuit of the opposition winding of relay Af. The 'uxes produced by the two windings of relay Af being equal and of opposite direction, relay Af releases. Over its front AC3 and front Ak2 `and Ag3, relay AC connects wire c to the two relays Am and An, thereby allowing the sending of certain special orders from the register to equipment A. Thus, for example, if the call is intended for the second subscriber on a party liner, the register applies battery to wire c, thereby energizing relay Am through rectifier AQ2. Relay Am then causes, over the ringing-current sending circuit, all the changes required to reach such second subscriber.

Relay Af prepares, over its back contact Af2, the circuit of relay All.

When the positive-battery pulse over wire a ends, relay Ac releases and over ACS completes the following circuit: battery, relay Ah, back AfZ, ACS, front Ag2, back Ai2, ground.

Relay Ah energizes; over Ah2 it completes a holding circuit for itself; over its front Ah3 and Ah4 it supplies the two line-wires over the following circuit: battery, upper u inding of relay Av, back Ajl, front Ah4, wire a, wire b, back Ail, front Ah, back Aj2., lower winding of relay Av, ground. Relay Av energizes over the calling subscribers loop.

Once the connection has been established between the two subscribers, a predetermined number of charging pulses, dependent upon the tari recorded, can be sent over contact Apl to the calling subscribers meter over the following circuit: battery, resistance ARZ, front Apl, back AC3, front Ak2, AgS and wire c.

When the calling subscriber hangs up, relay Av releases.

Equipment A releases by any suitable means. It iS possible, for example, to provide a general-holding relay (not shown) controlled by the hanging up of the calling subscriber or the called subscriber or both and the release of which -will cause the release of all the relays still in operated position, that is, relays Ag, Ah, Ak, Am (and Av if the calling subscriber has not hung up as yet).

The case will now be discussed, with reference to FIG. l, where equipment A must operate in conjunction with section n of adapter IN1. When the information required for charging the call has been properly received by equipment A, the register momentarily applies negative battery to wire a, the following circuit being then completed: negative battery on wire a, back Ah4, front AgS, Ak3, relays Aj' and Ac in series, ground. vRelay Ac causes the same operations as in the preceding case, namely, the release of relay Af and the energization of relay Ah. Over its front Ajl, and AJ'Z, relay Aj loops the two line-wires a and b over the following circuit: wire a, front A114,

10 Ail, self-induction coil XSZ, front Aj2, Ah, back Ail, wire b.

The exchange of signals between the equipment A involved and the adapter IN1 of FIG. 1 is then effected as said in the description of FIG. 6. When the selection has been completed and if the called subscriber is free, contact Adl closes, the battery `of relay As being then applied to the midpoint of self-induction coil XSZ and thence to line wires a and b in parallel. When the called subscriber answers, contact Arl opens and battery is removed from line lwires a and b. When the called subscriber hangs up, contact A111 closes again; the battery of relay As is then applied again in parallel to the line wires. Finally, if there is called-subscriber call-back, the terminating adapter IN1 of FIG. l causes the application of ground to line wires a and b through a low resistance, thus causing the energization of marginal relay As, which controls the call-back by any suitable means.

The case will now be discussed where a metallic connection must be established between the incoming and outgoing line-wires a and b of equipment A. As stated in the description of `FIG. l, line selector L' is directed to an adapter IN4 associated with circuit SD in the case of a call intended for a satellite and feeder ALI must be eliminated. Before sending the selective combinations to the satellite, the register momentarily applies a positive polarity to wire b, as well as a negative polarity to wire a. The following circuit is completed: positive battery on wire b, back Ail, A113, Ag4, rectilier AQl, relay Ac, battery. Relay Ac energizes and causes the energization of relay Af, as stated in the description of the general case; moreover, it completes the following circuit over its front AC1: negative battery on wire a, back Ah4AgS, front AC1, relay Az', which energizes, ground.

Through the opening of its back Ail, relay Ai prepares the isolation of line wire b, which becomes effective after the release of relay Ac and the opening of front Ac2; at AiZ it opens the circuit of relay Af and prevents the subsequent operation of relays Ag and Ah. When the metallic-connection signal (positive battery on wire bl and negative on wire a) is suppressed, relay Ac releases but relay Az' holds Vby any suitable means. Metallic continuity is established across equipment A through line wires a and b; any shunt is eliminated through the opening of back Ail and AgS. Equipment A ceases to perform any function; the rest of the dialing pulses, as well as any subsequent orders, are transmitted directly from the register to the originating adapter JN4 of FIG. l. l

At the end of the call, the release is effected by any, suitable means. It is possible, for example, to provider a generaleholding relay whose return to normal is controlled by one of the two adapters IN1 or JN4 of FIG. 1, said relay upon releasing causing the return to normal of all the other relays.

This possibility of eliminating the signaling bridge can be used to take care of exceptional cases, for it allows the use of some other bridge or termination meeting the special requirements of such exceptional cases.

The applications of the FIG. 9 block diagram to different types of connectors or feeders will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. Of course, in each of these applications, generally only part of the previouslydescribed arrangements will be used.

FIG. l0 shows the circuit components of an originating adapter between exchanges of the type receiving the selective combinations in the form of multifrequency signals.

When adapter B is available, all its relays are in normal position; wire t is then connected to battery through back contact Be7 and resistance BRI; wire m is grounded through back contact Be6.

Adapter B is seized by applying ground to wire t and battery to wire b, thereby causing the energization of relay Be. Over Bel, relay Be completes a holding circuit for itself; over its front contacts BeZ and Be4 it 

